Shuffleboard table and playing top, and other tables



P. KOTLE R Oct. 28, 1941.

SHUFFLEBOARD TABLE AND PLAYING TOP, AND OTHER TABLES Fil ed June 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Wm Ko LsR A ORNEY.

P. KOTLER Oct. 28, 1941.

SHUFFLEBOARD TABLE AND PLAYING TOP, AND OTHER TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2'7, 1959 INVENTOR. BY Mm KOTLER MORLEY.

Patented Oct. 28; 1941 SHUFFLEBOARD TABLE AND PLAYING TOPi' I AND OTHER TABLES Paul Kotler, Irvington, N. J.

Application June 27, 1939, Serial No. 281,339 4 Claims. (01. 273-126) This invention-relates-to new and useful improvements in a shuflleboard table and playing top, and inbutcher bench tops and other and all tables, in general.

The invention has for an object the construction of a shuflieboard table which is characterized by a horizontal frame supporting a vertical frame along its edges and a playing top, upon its center, and provided with a plurality of vertical boards secured on the bottom face of the frame and having their adjacent ends slightly spaced from each other, andlegs for supporting said frame having their upper ends engaged within said spaces and associated with means for releasably securing the legs'in position upon said vertical boards. With this arrangement it is possible to remove the legs when desired. This is of practical advantage when it is desired to ship, assemble, or store the shuiiieboard table.

Another object of this invention resides in a novel and efilcient construction of means-for removably securing the legs in relation to the vertical boards of the shuiileboard table.

Another object of this invention resides in a novel arrangement for preventing the playing top or other top of the table from warping. It is proviewed from the bottom.

and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of'this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shuiileboard table'and playing top constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary planview of aportion of the table, shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. j Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the horizontal frame used in the table.

Fig. 5 is a perspective'view of the upper portion of one of the legs of an adjacent pair of vertical boards of theshuiileboard table.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view taken onthe line H of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7' is a transverse vertical sectional perspective view of the playing 'top of the table Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line ii -8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a' fragmentary vertical transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

posed to form the playing top and'other top from a plurality of vertical boardsfin, face contact with each other and secured together 'as a unit, and having their top edges finished to form a true fiat surface. A table top of this kind is very likely to warp. This invention contemplates a novel, simple and eflicient construction to prevent such warping.

Another object of this invention resides ina novel construction associated with the bottom of each leg by which an adjustment is possible to relatively extend or retract the operative. length of the leg. The advantage of this construction resides in the fact that it is possible to have each leg rest upon the ground for assisting in supporting the table, even though the floor upon which the table is mounted, is not truly level. The invention particularly proposes a novel construction of the adjustment means as hereinafter more fully described.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a shufiieboard table and playing top embodying all of the advantages previously pointed out and additional advantages as will hereinafter be pointed out, and which may be manufacturedand sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description the side arms lia.-

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line iliili-of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of a playing top constructed according to a further embodiment-of this invention.

The shuiileboard table and playing top according tothis invention includesa horizontal frame l5,having side arms [5a and end arms [5b, and throughout its length at spaced positions having transverse joining arms 150 connected between I A vertical frame It is mounted along the edges of the horizontal frame IS. The vertical frame It has side arms lie and end arms "it. These end arms are secured together at the corners by screws and brackets H. The frame It engagesabout the edges of the frame l5 and it is secured thereto by a plurality of fastening elements l8 through these parts. A playing top is is mounted upon the frame l5. This playing top l9 is-of slightly larger size than the central opening of the frame l5, see Fig. 3, so that the playing top is supported-along all its edges. Several fastening elements 20 are engaged through the frame I! and into the playing top is for fixedly holding these parts together asaunit.

ments 22, and these vertical boards have adjacent edges 2|a, see Fig. 5, slightly spaced from each other. A plurality of legs 24 is provided for supporting the table. These legs have their upper ends engaging within the spaces between the ends 2|a of the vertical boards 2|. A novel means is provided for releasably securing together the legs and the vertical boards 2| so that these parts may be disconnected when desired.

The holding means mentioned in the previous paragraph includes a plate 25 fixedly mounted on an inner face of each end of each vertical board 2|. These plates 25 have headed holding elements 25. An angle plate 21 is permanently secured upon each side face of each leg 24. These angle plates 21 have one of their arms 21a secured to the leg 24 by fastening elements 28. These angle members have their arms 2Tb extended at right angles to the arms 21a and adapted to engage in intimate face contact against the plates 25. Each arm 21b is formed with a slot 29 extended in from the top edge and another slot 30 extended in through the side edge. These slots 30 and 29 are so arranged that the headed holding elements 26 may be engaged into these slots and reach a position at the bottom ends of the slots. for securely holding the parts together.

Each end 2|a of each vertical board 2| is also formed with a reduced portion engaging into a receiving groove 3| formed in the leg 24, see Fig. 5. The arrangement is such that the horizontal frame l5, to which the vertical boards 2| are secured by the fastening elements 22, is normally supported by the legs 24. Each leg may be removed by forcing it downwards relative to the frame l5 so that the headed holding elements 26 move relatively upwards along the slots 29 and 30 and reach positions in which the leg 24 may be completely removed.

Preferably the frame I 6 should be made of several sections so that it also may be taken apart. In Fig. l the frame I6 is shown to be constructed of end sections |6c and a central section l6d. These sections are normally joined together with dowel pins 33. This arrangement permits the frame Hi to be taken apart to facilitate shipment thereof.

The legs 24 are joined together in transverse pairs by transverse boards 2| across their top the playing top has an edge board lflaa at each side with a closed area |9bb covering each end of the rod 35. The edge boards |9aa are of a slightly higher dimension than the other boards l9a, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9. These edge boards |9a are adapted to rest upon the edge portion of the central opening of the frame I 5.

In one form of this invention a novel mechanism is associated with rod 35 assisting the rod and holding the playing top from warping. This means includes a channel bar 31, for each rod, extended transversely across the bottom face of the playing top at an area immediately below the rod 35. Fastening elements 38 are arranged at sev eral positions along the length of the channel bar 31 and are connected with the rod 35 in a particular way. Each fastening element 38 is in the form of a headed screw 38 and a washer 38 is engaged beneath each head of each fastening element 38 and extend over slots 40 formed in the base of the channel bar 31. These slots 40 are aligned with slots 4| formed in the boards I911. Each slot 4| extends to one side of the rod 35.

Each fastening element 38passes through the slots 40 and 4| and threadedly engages the bar rod 35. In this form of the invention the rod 30 is of hollow tubular form.

Since the channel bar 31 is tightly pressed against and across the bottom edges of the boards I 9a by the fastening elements 38 tightly connected with the rod 35, the channel bar 31 and the rod 35 will function to rigidly hold the wooden boards |9a against possible warping. arrangement makes it certain that the playing top will maintain a fiat and true condition.

In Figure 11 a modified form of the rigid unit is illustrated for holding the playing top against warping. According to this form of the invention the boards l9a of the playing top are held, against warping by a rod 35' which is extended through and is a tight fit in an opening 36' formed transversely across the playing top. This rod 35', at the bottom side, is provided with a rectangular projection 35a which extends through a complementary groove 36a formed in the playing top. This rectangular projection 35:: functions to stiffen the rod 35' against possible benda ing in the plane of the projection 35a. The comends and across lower portions thereof. Dowel.

pins 2| are used to secure the boards 2| and the legs 24 together as units. Each pair of connected legs 24 may be removed as a unit from the'vertical boards 2|.

The playing top I9 or butcher bench top is'constructed according to a novel feature of this invention, an arrangement to prevent warping thereof. More specifically the playing top Is is formed from-a plurality of vertical boards |3a which are arranged in face contact with each other and which are secured together as a unit. The top face |9b of these boards are finished so as to have a flat and true straight surface. A plurality of rigid units are keyed through these boards |9a at spaced positions along the length of the playing top for holding the top against warping.

Each rigid unit referred to in the previous paragraph includes a rod 35 preferably of metallic material engaging through and a tight fit in an opening 36 extended transversely through the playing top. A means is provided for covering the ends of the rod 35. One such means is shown in Fig. 9 and comprises an arrangement whereby bination rod 35' and the projection 35a serve to hold the playing top against warping.

The bottom end of each leg 24 is provided with 'a novel meansby which the leg may be raised or lowered as to properly seat it upon the floor, to properly support the shuflleboard table. More specifically each leg has a plate 45. attached to its bottom by several fastening elements 46. A screw 41 threadedly engages through each plate 45 and extends into a closely bored opening 48 formed in the bottom end of each leg. The bottom end 410 of the screw 49 is oval shaped or roundv headed. Immediately adjacent this head 41a there is a square gripping portion 41b or other shaped gripping portion.

A plate 49 is provided to rest on the floor. This plate has a recess 50 adapted to receive the rounded head 41a, and the curvature of the recess and the head are such that the head may be set into the recess and the recess act as a bearing for the head. The arrangement is such that the screw 41 may be turned in one direction or the other by engaging a turning tool on the gripping portion 41b. When the screw 41 is turned in one direction it will move upwards relative to the leg 24, and when turned in the other direction, downbe understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a shuiiieboard table and playing top, a plurality of vertical boards in face contact with each other and secured together as a unit and having a finished top to form a playing top, and

a plurality of rigid keys through said boards at spaced positions along the length of said playing top for holding said top against warping, each unit including a rod engaged through and a tight fit in an opening extending transversely through said playing top, a channel bar for each rod and extended transversely across the bottom face of said playing top, and fastening elements connecting said channel bar with said rod.

2. In a shuflieboard table and playing top, a plurality of vertical boards in face contact with each other and secured together as a unit and having a finished top to form a playing top, and a plurality of rigid keys through said boards at spaced positions along the length of said playing top for holding said top against warping, each unit including a rod engaged through and a tight flt in an opening extending transversely through said playing top, a bar for each rod and extended transversely across the bottom face of said playing top, and fastening elements connecting said bar with said rod, said playing top having slots extended upwards from its bottom face and connecting with said opening, and said fastening elements passing through said slots.

- 3. In a shuflieboard table and playing top, a plurality of vertical boards in face contact with each other and secured together as a unit and having a finished top to form a playing top, and a plurality of rigid keys through said boards at spaced positions along the length of said playing top for holding said top against warpin each unit including a rod engaged through and a tight fit in an opening extending transversely through said playing top, and a reinforcement bar for each rod extending along the longitudinal length and bottom of each rod, and connected with each rod. 4. In a table having a plurality of vertical boards in face contact with each other and secured together with a pluralityof units and having a finished top, a key for each unit extended through said boards at spaced positions along the length of said boards and including a rod engaged through and a tight fit in an opening extending transversely through said boards, a channel bar for each rod and extended transversely across the bottom of said boards, and fastening elements connecting said channel bar with said rod. 7

PAUL KO'I'LER. 

